Film reel construction



May 3, 1949. w. P. LLOYD F ILM REEL CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15, 1946fvvzzvrm lh/H/TTEN F Lzam Patented May 3, 1949 FILM REEL CONSTRUCTIONWhitten P. Lloyd, Chicago, 111., assignor to Excel Movie Products, Inc.,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 15, 1946,Serial No. 662,257

6 Claims.

This invention relates to spools or reels and more particularly to reelsof the type used with motion picture films.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a reel for filmon which the film is easily and conveniently secured to the hub of thereel for winding thereon and from which the film may be withdrawn afterunwinding, without danger of injury to the film.

Another object of this invention is the provision, in a reel, of meansrelying on the inherent resilience of the film to maintain adequatefrictional contact with the hub of the reel to secure the film theretoagainst accidental displacement.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a two piece reelconstruction in which the companion reel sections are identical inconstruction and easily assembled in a convenient manner.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a reel ofthe character set forth, which is strong, sturdy, simple in constructionand inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawing which, by way of illustration, shows a preferredembodiment and the principle thereof. Other embodiments of the inventionembodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structuralchanges may be made as desired by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the present invention and a purview of the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a reel embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on. line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line i of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a detail partially in section.

Referring to the drawing, the reel illustrated comprises two identicalcompanion sheet metal stampings, indicated generally by the numerals 7and l, and formed to provide flanges 8 and 8, each having a hub portionH) and Ill. Since the companion stampings are identical in constructiononly one will be described, with primed reference numbers used toidentify corresponding parts of the companion stamping.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, openings l2 are stamped outof each flange to reduce weight without impairing the rigidity.

Each stamping is formed with an opening l3 for receiving a spindle. Twolugs I l and I5 are struck out of the flange 8 and are bent out of theplane of the flanges at right angles thereto to support the film whenthe latter is wound thereon, and to provide a portion of the hubstructure. Projections l6, I6 are provided at the ends of the lugs idand I5 and are adapted to be received in registering apertures providedin the companion stamping l. The projections I6, l6 and correspondingprojections such as [6' of complementary lug l5 are arranged to bepeened over to secure the stampings I and If in assembled relation. Aswill be noted, the two lugs l4 and I5 and apertures l1 and IS in thestamping l are spaced radially about apart, the lugs I4 and [5 beinglocated in one half of the hub circle and the apertures I1 and I8 in theother half. Two semi-circular tabs 20 and 2|, arranged on a diametricalline and struck from the stamping l, are bent at right angles to theplane of the flange 8 and, when in juxtaposed relation to correspondingtabs such as 2i, illustrated in Fig. 2, of the companion stamping 1',are arranged to provide additional platform surfaces to support thewound film.

Tabs 23 and 23' are struck out of the hub portions of the companionstampings 1 and I and are bent inwardly to provide film supportingplatform surfaces. The tabs 23 and 23' are provided with slots such as25, each defining substantially an ogee curve, as is shown in Figs. 3and 4. The terminal portions of the tabs 23 and 23' are suitably roundedin contour to provide an enlarged mouth opening for the ogee curvedslot.

Tabs 24 and 24' are struck out of the hub pore tions of the stamping land l in a diametrical line with the tabs 23 and 23 and are bentinwardly in planes to underlie tabs 23 and 23 re spectively of thecompanion stampings. The tabs 23 and 23' are spaced from tabs 24 and 24respectively, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The stampings l and l areprovided with slots 21 and 21' extending radially from the marginaledges of the flanges 8 and 8' to the hub portions and connecting withstraight slots 28 and 28 of the tabs 24 and 24' respectively. As isshown in Figs. 1 and 5, the ogee curved slot 25 of tab 23' is arrangedabove the straight slot 28, so that when viewed in plan, either as inFig. 3 or Fig. 4, the rounded edges of the ogee curved slot 25" alignwith opposite edges of the straight slot 28 or slightly overlap thesame.

As was previously noted, each of the stampings I and 7 are identical inconstruction, but in assembly, the stampings are turned relative to eachother, so that tab 23 overlies tab 24 and tab 23 overlies tab 24. Theogee curved slots 25 and 25' are arranged over the slots 28 and 28respec- 3 tively, in the relative positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and,as will be presently described, coopcrate to secure therebetween a filmend against accidental displacement.

To connect the reel to the film for winding, the film is grasped at adistance from the end slightly greater than the length of the radialslots 21 or 21' and is inserted laterally in either slot, depending uponwhich flange is more conveniently presented for use, with the endportion of the film entering into the connecting slots such as 25' and28 and being deformed thereby across the width of the film substantiallyin ogee configuration. The inherent resilience of the film particularly,when deformed as above described, urges the film surfaces in contactwith the walls of the slots 25' and 28 to afiord the necessaryfrictional engagement to prevent withdrawal of the film during theinitial stages of the winding operation, but is yet sufficientlyyieldable to permit withdrawal of the film from the slots without injuryto the film.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified embodiment employed preferably in reels ofsmaller capacity than those hereinabove described, and particularlywherein the hub dimensions are such as to preclude striking out tabs ofsufficient length to extend substantially across the width of the reel.In this modified embodiment, complemental tabs 30 and 8| are struck outof the companion stampings 32 and 32 and are bent inwardly towards eachother to form a film supporting platform portion. As is shown in Fig. 6,the tabs 30 and 3 I terminate on a line substantially midway between theflanges of the stampings. The tabs 30 and 3| are provided with curvedslots 33 and 34' respectively which together assume substantially anogee curve. The slot 34' connects with a radial slot 35 in the stamping32' which similarly to the radial slot 21, shown in Fig. 1, extends fromthe marginal edge of the flange to the hub portion of the stamping. Thebalance of the reel structure is identical with that described and thefilm is connected to the reel for winding in the same mannerhereinbefore described.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an efiective securement of thefilm end for winding on the reel is accomplished in a minimum amount oftime, and with a minimum of effort. In view of the provision ofduplicate structure on each side flange stamping, a slot is convenientlyavailable to the user for beginning the winding of the film regardlessof which side is presented to view when the reel is picked up for use.

I claim:

1. A film reel comprising a pair of substantially identical complementalmembers, each having a flange and hub portion, a tab struck out of oneof said members and extending substantially across the width of thereel, the complemental member having a radial slot connecting with aslot in said tab, the said slots being arranged to receive a filmlaterally and to deform the terminal portion of the film substantiallyin an ogee curve to secure the same for winding on the reel.

2. A film reel comprising a pair of complemental members, each having aflange and hub portion, a tab associated with the hub portion of one ofsaid members and extending substantially across the width of the reel,the complemental member having a radial slot connecting with a slot insaid tab, the said slots being arranged to receive a, film laterally andto deform the terminal portion of the film substantially in an ogeecurve to secure the same for winding on the reel.

3. A film reel comprising a pair of flanges and a hub portion, one ofsaid flanges having a radial slot extending from the hub portion to themarginal edge thereof and arranged to receive a film laterally, said hubportion having a film supporting platform, said platform having a slotsubstantially in an ogee curve and extending substantially across thewidth of the reel and connecting with said radial slot, the said filmwhen received in said slots being deformed at the terminal portion andreleasably secured for winding on the reel.

4. A film reel comprising a pair of substantially identical members,each having a flange and a hub portion, one of said members having aradial slot extending from the hub portion to the marginal edge thereofand arranged to receive a film laterally, a tab struck out of each ofsaid members and arranged to extend substantially across the width ofthe reel with one of said tabs overlying the other of said tabs andspaced therefrom, each of said tabs having slots extending substantiallyacross the width of the reel and connecting with said radial slot andarranged when a film is received therein to deform the terminal portionof the film to releasably secure the same for winding.

5. A film reel comprising a pair of substantially identical members,each having a flange and a hub portion, one of said members having aradial slot extending from the hub portion to the marginal edge thereofand arranged to receive a film laterally, a tab struck out of each ofsaid members and arranged to extend substantially across the width ofthe reel with one of said tabs overlying the other of said tabs andspaced therefrom, the upper of said tabs having a slot substantially inan ogee curve and the lower of said tabs having a slot substantiallystraight, each of said slots connecting with said radial slot and when afilm is received therein arranged to deform the terminal portion of thefilm substantially in an ogee curve thereby to secure the film forwinding.

6. A film reel comprising a pair of flanges and a hub portion, one ofsaid flanges having a radial slot extending from the hub portion to themarginal edge thereof and arranged to receive a film laterally, said hubportion having a film supporting platform extending substantially acrossthe width of the reel, said platform having a slot substantially in anogee curve and connecting with said radial slot, a tab disposed belowsaid platform and connected to said hub portion, said tab having a slotextending substantially across the width of the reel and connecting withthe said radial slot, said slots when a film is received thereinarranged to deform the terminal portion of the film to releasably securethe same for winding.

WHITTEN P. LLOYD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,353,901 Fulton Sept. 28, 19201,408,425 Passavanti Feb. 28, 1922 1,469,818 Robertson Oct. 9, 19231,856,112 Porter May 3, 1932 2,203,101 Pausin June 4, 1940

